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What to do with your rubbish

Find out what to put in each bin and if you can take your rubbish to your nearest recycling centre, garden waste collection point, NHS, charity or return it to the manufacturer. We don’t accept plastic bags but you can still recycle them at most supermarkets. Check with your local store if they accept them.

Please wrap items thoroughly if disposing of in your black bin or scrap metal skip at recycling centres or reuse.

Laminated paper

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Lead Acid Batteries

Recycling centre or local garage

Local garages can dispose of car parts. Don't mix with household batteries if disposing at a recycling centre.

Leaves

Recycling centre, Garden waste points or compost

Use the green waste skip at the recycling centre or summer garden waste points or compost at home.

Light bulbs (filament)

Black bin (non-recyclable waste) or Recycling centre

Currently cannot be recycled.

Light bulbs (Energy saving)

Recycling centre

Can be put into the container for bulbs at recycling centre.

Magazines

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure it is clean and dry.

Meat bones

Food waste caddy

Remove packaging.

Meat trays

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure they are empty and clean.

Medicines

NHS

Return to your local pharmacy.

Metallic wrapping paper

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Metals

Recycling centre

Scrap metal unit.

Milk bottles (plastic)

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure they are empty and clean.

Mobile Phones

Recycling centre or charity

Can be put into the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equiptment (WEEE) container. Please ensure all data is removed.

Nappies (Disposable)

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Needles

NHS

Do not put into any council bin, your prescribing pharmacist should supply a sharp safe bin or needle exchange.

Newspapers

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure it is clean and dry.

Oil Tins

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

All oil should be removed.

Out of date food

Food waste caddy

Remove any non-food items (packaging).

Padded envelopes

Black bin (non-recyclable waste) or reuse

Currently cannot be recycled, please reuse.

Paint

Black bin (non-recyclable waste) (Note – all paint should be either removed or dried)

If you have tins of water-based paint, leave the lid off so the paint can go hard before putting them in your refuse bin. For oil-based paint, mix the paint with sawdust or cat litter first and then leave to dry.

Painted paper or card

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Pans

Black bin (non-recyclable waste) or charity or Recycling centre

Can be donated to charity if in a suitable condition or placed in scrap metal container at recycling centre.

Paper

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure it is clean and dry.

Paper napkins

Food waste caddy

Paperback books

Reuse or blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Can be donated to charity if in a suitable condition.

Pesticides

Follow manufacturer instruction

Pet food

Food waste caddy

Remove any non-food items.

Pet food pouches

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Phone books

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure it is clean and dry.

Photos

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Pillows

Black bin (non-recyclable waste) or charity

Can be donated to an animal charity if in a suitable condition. Cannot be accepted in textile banks.

Pizza box

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

The top of the box can be put into your blue bin (mixed dry recycling) if it is not greasy.

Plant pots (ceramic)

Recycling centre

Rubble skip.

Plant pots (plastic)

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure they are clean and dry.

Plasterboard

Recycling centre

Prior arrangement must be made and make sure it's clean and free of any tiles or dirt.

Plastic bags

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Plastic bottles

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure they are empty and clean.

Plastic cups (disposable)

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure they are empty and clean.

Plastic lids

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure they are clean and on top of container.

Plastic netting

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Plastic pots

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure they are empty and clean.

Plastic straws

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Plastic trays

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure they are empty and clean.

Plastic tubes

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Plastic tubs

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure they are empty and clean.

Plastic wrapping or film

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Polystyrene

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Pressurised containers

Recycling centre

Includes gas bottles such as LPG and camping gas, fire extinguishers and similar potentially dangerous containers. Make sure they are empty.

Pyrex glass

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Rags

Recycling centre or textile banks

Ragwort

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Waste skip.

Rechargeable batteries

Battery bags

Recyclable material contaminated in food

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Rice, pasta and pizza

Food waste caddy

Remove any non-food items.

Rotten food

Food waste caddy

Remove any non-food items.

Rubble

Recycling centre

Rubble skip.

Sandwich packets

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Clean off food residue.

Sanitary products

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Sauce bottles (plastic)

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure they are empty and clean.

Scrap metal

Recycling centre

Scrap metal unit.

Shampoo bottles

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure they are empty and clean.

Sheet glass

Recycling centre or Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Waste skip. It cannot currently be recycled.

Shoes

Recycling centre or textile banks or charity

Tie shoes together to keep in pairs. Can be donated to charity if in a suitable condition.

Shredded paper

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure it is clean, dry and wrapped in either newspaper or cereal boxes.

Small electrical appliances

Recycling centre or charity

Can be donated to charity if in a suitable condition or placed in Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) container.

Smoke alarms

Recycling centre

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) container.

Soft plastic tubes (e.g. toothpaste)

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Soil

Recycling centre

Soil skip.

Spectacles

Charities

Can be donated to prescribing optician.

Stone

Recycling centre

Rubble skip.

Straws

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Sweet packets (plastic)

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Sweet tin

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure they are empty and clean.

Syringes

NHS

Do not put into any council bin, your prescribing pharmacist should supply a sharp safe bin or needle exchange.

Tablet blister packs

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Tablet bottles

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure they are empty and clean.

Tablets

NHS

Return to your pharmacy.

Tea bags

Food waste caddy

Remove any non-food items (staples or string).

Textiles

Reuse or Recycling centre

Can be disposed of at textile banks at recycling points regardless of condition but can also be donated to charity if in a suitable condition.

Tin foil

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Remove food and other dirt from any foil packaging or trays.

Tissues

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Toilet roll tubes

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Make sure it is clean and dry.

Toner

Not disposed of

Can be returned to the manufacturer or supplier and some charities will accept these.

Toothbrushes

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Toothpaste tubes

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Toys

Black bin (non-recyclable waste) or charity

Can be donated to charity if in a suitable condition.

Turf

Recycling centre

Soil skip.

Tyres

Local garage

Local garages can dispose of tyres, enquire when purchasing replacement tyres.

Uncooked food

Food waste caddy

Remove any non-food items (packaging).

Underlay

Recycling centre or Reuse

Waste skip if cannot be reused.

Vegetable oil

Recycling centre

Ensure correct oil container is used at recycling centre.

Vegetable peelings

Food waste caddy

Remove any non-food items (stickers).

Vegetables

Food waste caddy

Remove any non-food items.

Videos

Reuse or Recycling centre

Can be donated to charity if in a suitable condition.

Video cases

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Please remove the paper insert, which can also be recycled.

Video tapes

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Video cassettes cannot be recycled.

Vinyl flooring

Recycling centre or Reuse

Waste skip if cannot be reused.

Wallpaper

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Water filters

Manufacturer

Can be returned to manufacturer to be recycled.

Weeds

Black bin (non-recyclable waste) or Recycling centre

Waste skip.

Wet wipes

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

White bin bags

Black bin (non-recyclable waste)

Currently cannot be recycled.

Window Panes

Recycling centre

Waste skip.

Wood

Recycling centre

Remove any nails and screws.

Wooden flooring

Recycling centre or Reuse

Wood skip if cannot be reused.

Wool

Black bin (non-recyclable waste) or reuse

Currently cannot be recycled but can be donated to charity if in a suitable condition.

Wrapping paper

Blue bin (mixed dry recycling bin)

Can be recycled if it scrunches and stays compressed, springy wrapping paper with plastic content cannot be recycled.